Occoquan.My favorite little town. It’s quaint. It’s still. And with a gazebo in the midst of it, it’s Stars Hollow in real life. This town is its own little world with a Christmas-like charm all year long. With still waters and delightful views, it’s sure to lift my spirits every time. I come to this place to read, to think, and to reflect. It is where I come when I need to seek serenity. It is where I come to seek God. It is where I come to seek myself. I have made many footprints and circles in its ground.

I love that such a city exists so close to a major city (Washington D.C.). This is why I love it here. When you are seeking excitement, D.C. is just a few miles away. And when you need to escape the noise, there are surrounding cities that will offer you tranquility. Oh, how I love home and how proud I am to call it that. It still takes my breath away. It still leaves me speechless sometimes. And I love that this is my safe haven.

I am one who appreciates my alone time. It refreshes my soul. It empties my troubled mind. It forces me to see things in a new light. Stillness is precious to me. It’s a gift that life allows me to open only once in a while, especially as a mother. But on days when I am able to open my gift, it is one where I unwrap it with God and find my hiding place. And strangely enough, it is always here. In a little town, called Occoquan.